On The Line

Double stacked box cars at sunset casting fun shadows. However, I really like the long lines this photo presents.

Polar Bear Mosaic

A close up of the mosaic from yesterday's photo. I'm being lazy and not looking for the artist. Leave a comment if you know who made this artwork.

North Pole on Newport

One of our family favorites is the North Pole restaurant in Newport. Also was recently featured in an independent movie called “Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter”.

Morning Coffee

A tanker truck full of coffee....who knew they sold it in such large quantities.

Red Rock Neon

Red Rock Saloon in Newport, Minnesota

The Road To Nowhere

The road was freshing paved, and freshly painted....it was so smooth to drive on.

They're Sending A Message

It appears to be the current trend of the upcoming elections in November....

Overloaded Pallets

On my way to work the other day, midway through Newport and pull in behind the truck you see in the photo. It was driving a bit slower than the traffic was moving, but I was just about at my ramp to go from Highway 61 to Highway 494, so I slowed down and followed along behind the truck. I noticed the high stack of pallets, how could you miss them? Started looking it over a bit closer, there was straps keeping them in place and they were still attached, I was safe.

So we finally make it to the ramp, which takes a very long, long curve before connecting with 494. Let me tell you, what I saw next scared the bejesus out of me. Picture this stack of pallets, truck driving around a curve, now picture two of the wheels nearly leaving the ground! I swear the truck was going to tip over. There was three or four times, during the curve, the tipping of the truck, the lean of the pallets, I was nervous as one could be. The photo doesn't do it justice unfortunately. The truck did make it around the ramp and onto 494 and a straight path. That was when I decided I needed to take a photo for the blog.

Red Rock Saloon

I've always liked this neon sign for the Red Rock Saloon and Bowling despite never paying the place a visit. Heck, I really have no idea if there is still bowling in the tavern as it appears to be quite a small place. The Red Rock Saloon is in Newport along Highway 61. With the new construction that took place in Newport removing the three stop lights in town, it's very easy to overlook the neon lights while driving at night.

Extreme Custom Choppers

Found along Highway 61 in Newport. I really loved the flames painted on this building. I must say, this is the first time I've ever seen flames painted on a building.

North Pole Cafe

From Newport, I love this mosaic on the wall outside the North Pole Cafe.

Really Fresh Fritzie Fresh

Raceway To Fun

Newport is home of the Entertainment Complex, Raceway To Fun. Along Highway 61, this fun factory has go-cart racing, mini golf, a driving range, video game arcade and bumper tubes on water.

Steve's Newport Drive-In

Though it has been closed for quite some time now, at least three years. It was known for it's great burgers and rootbeer floats. I believe it was once an A&W Rootbeer stand before it turned into Steve's Newport Drive-In. The drive-in became a casualty of the Highway 61 road construction that eliminated the stop light and nearly all of it's passer by traffic.

  

Deserted Drive-In

Sidwalk Sale

What happens when you have a hardware store next to a thrift store, with both store have items for sale sitting out on the sidewalk....well, it looks like a bunch of junk from this angle. I'm sort of laughing at the photo because there are actually three store entrance doors among all of the goods for sale [there is a bird feed store inbetween]. Though with this tight angle, makes it tough to find the entrance. Really I liked how trustworthy both stores feel having so much of their inventory sitting out in the open. I guess it takes a small town attitude these days.

Boyd's Motel

Located in Newport along Highway 61, Boyd's Motel is another place that has survived the ages. This was really a tough shot to take. Nothing was ideal. I wanted the faded sign with the hotel in the background, but that telephone pole was smack dab in the middle of any shot I wanted. The other side doesn't get any sunlight, thus it was not faded, but if I shot the sign on that side, the hotel was out of the photo completely. So this strangely arranged photo was the best I could come up with.

Newport Center

Along highway 61, in the city of Newport, this red, white, and blue Newport Center signage is hard to miss.

Fritz Company Inc

Based in Newport, Minnesota, Fritz Company Inc which you've probably heard the phrase "Fritzie Fresh", yeah, that candy company. I've been googling on some facts about the company as I'm under the impression it has closed, or parts of it at least. I'm fairly sure they no longer manufacture candy from this facility, but what part of it is still open, that info I could not locate at this time.

Windy Road

On the back roads in Newport.